Edy's Grand Ice Cream Offering A `Churn Challenge'

IN THE KITCHEN

June 11, 1997|The Morning Call

Get out your ice cream freezers. In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the homemade ice cream churn, Edy's Grand Ice Cream is launching a search of ice cream churns and freezers in the categories of most appreciated; crankiest; cutest; homeliest, and oldest. The churns can be old or new, hand-cranked or not. Send a picture of your favorite ice cream churn along with a short description (250 words or less) of your churn's "qualifications" in the particular category. Entries will be judged on the basis of creativity, credibility and historical perspective.

Three winners will selected in each category. A total of five first-place winners will each receive a weekend trip for two to Houston to tour Edy's Homemade Ice Cream Factory, including air fare, hotel accommodations for three nights, and tickets to Six Flags of Houston theme park. Because it's the 150th anniversary of the homemade ice cream churn, second-place winners in each category will each receive 150 weeks of ice cream. Third-place winners will receive a new homemade ice cream churn and a year's supply of ice cream gift certificates.

Contestants should include their name, age, address and telephone number. Only one entry per person is permitted. Contest entries must be postmarked by Aug. 31, 1997, and should be mailed to Churn Challenge, Edy's Grand Ice Cream, 5929 College Ave., Oakland, Calif. 94618.

* An increasing number of health experts agree that television and computer games are taking their toll on America's children as too many of them hit the couch after school with junk-food snacks in tow.

A report released in April from the National Center for Health Statistics says that youngsters are not getting enough physical activity and they eat too much junk food, and that about 14 percent of children six to 11 are overweight -- up 8 percent from 1980.

To help parents get in the habit of encouraging more active play after school, and for snacks to help fuel energy, Quaker Chewy Low Fat Granola Bars has developed the Power Play Planner designed to make it easy for parents to plan for healthier afternoons. The three-month calendar is full of fun ideas for physical activities as well as healthy snack suggestions. To receive a free copy, call (800) 476-2252.

* The new "Butter at its Best" brochure from Land O'Lakes is a free, 16-page collection of high-flavor recipes and cooking tips that show off the "Butter 120 Phenomenon" -- how butter, even just a pat, can enhance the flavor of foods you cook.

The 10 recipes featured in the brochure offer a variety of flavors created through different cooking styles: sauteing, carmelizing, saucing and flavoring. It also has an easy-to-read Land O'Lakes Butter family reference chart for home cooks, including storage tips and measurement conversions. To receive a copy, call (800) 782-9602.

* Looking for new snack ideas? Quaker Rice Cakes has reamed up with the Women's Sports Foundation to offer a free recipe booklet filled with snack ideas and healthy lifestyle tips.

To satisfy a sweet tooth, try recipes such as Strawberry Delight or Apple Butter. For savory snacks, try recipes like the Mexican bean Dip or Tuna Spread. All the recipes are easy to make and carry to the office.